From IU manager to champion: Dusty May leads Michigan to title at home
An Indiana native with deep IU roots, Dusty May caps a rapid rebuild by leading Michigan to a national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Year 2.
Good evening and welcome back to Fieldhouse Files. I’ve kept busy over the last five days downtown and at Lucas Oil Stadium as the men’s Final Four took over the city.
Still true: Nobody does big events like Indianapolis.
From the massive bracket — the size of 12 basketball courts — on the side of the JW Marriott to the special street signs across the city, the Tip-Off Tailgate on Georgia Street, Fan Fest at the Indiana Convention Center, and bars flooded with guests, this event is huge for Indy.
Indiana Sports Corp estimates it will have an economic impact of approximately $400 million. Staggering.
There were more than 70,000 fans both Saturday and Monday night, plus more than 1,000 credentials issued and countless volunteers.
“Indianapolis, come on, we know what basketball means in the state of Indiana,” said Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd. “It’s an amazing host city for the Final Four. Just the proximity of everything on feet is really cool.
“It’s been amazing and we’re thankful that the NCAA and the city of Indianapolis work in great partnership to put on an amazing event.”
It’s the ninth time Indy has hosted the Final Four and the first since 2021, when the city successfully hosted the entire tournament due to COVID-19.
Added Illinois coach Brad Underwood: “This is one of the great venues for the Final Four. Every single year, obviously the NCAA is housed here, but as long as I can remember, these have always been an incredible environment for the Final Four, the proximity, everything is downtown, the venues, all of it play hand in hand.
“But you’ve got very knowledgeable fans. You’ve got passionate fans. It just makes for one of the great, great events in all of the sporting world is right here in the heart of America in the great city of Indianapolis.”
Championships Run Through the Big Ten
A sea of maize and blue celebrated as the final buzzer sounded at 11:21 p.m. ET, and Michigan captured its first national championship since 1989.
More than that, it continued the Big Ten’s 2026 run of national championships:
Football: Indiana
Women’s Basketball: UCLA
Men’s Basketball: Michigan
On Sunday, UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close delivered several memorable lines during her championship celebration.
“We said all year that our selflessness and work ethic would be the things that fuel us,” she said in an on-court interview. “It's one thing to say those things … it's a whole other thing to follow through with those things even when it's hard. Those commitments, not our feelings, led us to our destiny.”
And this one later: “I think I’m most proud of the ways in which I had truth tellers around me that told me the hard things, and that hopefully I had a humble heart to go, Okay, I receive that and these are the changes I have to be responsible to make.”
One more: “Character never goes out of style. And I think that all of us, in life, sports, whatever, as we grow in our character, we grow in our consistency, good things happen.”
Fast-forward to Monday. More than 24 hours later, the TNT broadcast continued its tradition of ending the season with the “One Shining Moment” montage.
It began right at midnight — more than a half hour after the game concluded — and, fittingly, just as the transfer portal opened for every program across the country.
Dusty May Completes Wolverine Turnaround
“What a way to wrap up the ’25–’26 college basketball season with this group,” said Dusty May, concluding his second season as Michigan head coach with a championship.
This marked his second Final Four in four years after guiding Florida Atlantic to a surprise run in 2023.
This one meant more because it was at home.
May was born in Indianapolis, attended Eastern Greene High School, and later served as a manager for Bob Knight at Indiana University.
Knight is no longer with us, but May fielded several questions about the Hall of Famer’s influence.
“Obviously there’s a fear element and a fear of disappointing him that you wanted to be thinking ahead, you wanted to be on your toes,” May said. “You’re always anticipating what’s next.
“And looking back, I think that’s probably one of the biggest components of problem solving where you’re anticipating what could be the next problem or problems, you’re figuring out solutions or contingencies in advance, and if those become a problem you’re ready as opposed to just always being shocked at what’s in front of you.
“Those are the things I learned most from Coach Knight, the preparation, the anticipation of whatever comes next.”
When the 1997 Final Four was held at the RCA Dome, May and three other managers tried to network their way into jobs. They couldn’t afford tickets, so they spent the weekend in hotels downtown making connections.
The first Final Four game he attended came in 2002, thanks to former IU coach Mike Davis.
“At that point he had already offered me a position on the staff even though he didn’t have one yet, coming from USC,” May remembered. “So we played in the same regional. We had got upset by UNC-Wilmington and he created a position to bring me back home.
“But in that process they continued to advance, so he got me great tickets right behind the team and started that process of acclimating to their program. So that was the only time I ever went.”
On Monday night, thousands across the state — many of them IU fans — were pulling for the former IU manager who had spent decades working his way up.
May deflected credit postgame, first highlighting his wife and family for their sacrifices. Early in his career, he earned little and moved frequently as he climbed the ranks — eventually taking over Florida Atlantic in 2018 and Michigan in 2024.
When he inherited the Wolverines, they were 8–24 and had lost 19 of their final 21 games.
In two seasons: 58–12, a Big Ten tournament title (2025), a regular-season title (2026), and now a national championship.
May differs from Knight in demeanor — measured, composed, and player-focused — aligning with today’s game.
He built a championship roster through the transfer portal, starting five transfers in the title game. They had size, versatility, defense, and physical, active guards — a point of emphasis.
In a 69–63 win over UConn, coached by Dan Hurley, Michigan overcame poor perimeter shooting (2-for-15 from three) by dominating inside: 36 points in the paint and 25-of-28 at the free-throw line.
(Pacers president Kevin Pritchard and college scout KJ Pritchard sat in row 3 behind the Michigan bench.)
Afterward, May lifted the trophy, answered questions on the court and in the locker room, and quickly turned his attention forward.
The transfer portal had already opened.
He praised his staff for both the season and the work ahead. After a team celebration at the downtown Marriott, he got just over an hour of sleep.
Back home again in Indiana, May delivered a night he’ll never forget.
Forever a champion.
Indiana’s ‘76 Team Celebrates Perfect Season
Halftime served as a tribute to history.
The NCAA honored Indiana’s 1976 men’s basketball team at center court, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its perfect season — still the last in men’s college basketball.
Fittingly, that title came against Michigan, 86–68.
Scott May. Kent Benson. Quinn Buckner. Pat Knight, representing his father.
The players wore custom crimson jackets from Homefield Apparel, with “Indiana” scripted across the front.
It marked their second reunion of the season after gathering in Bloomington earlier this winter.
This time, they were recognized in front of more than 70,000 fans — and millions more watching on TV.
A few hours earlier, the group held a media session and reflected on their historic run.
SHAQ Launching Dunk League
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal was in Indianapolis for several activities over the weekend. He appeared in studio with Pat McAfee, recorded his own podcast, appeared on the TNT Sports broadcast, and announced his own new program coming later this year.
It’s a league for professional dunkers by a former professional dunker. He’s shattered double-digit backboards in his time. League events will air be available on TNT Sports and HBO Max.